Word Detail

The Japanese word 給料 （きゅうりょう） means "salary," "pay," or "wage." It refers to the money an employee receives for their work, usually on a regular basis (e.g., monthly). It's a fundamental term related to employment and finances. The word encompasses the total compensation, including the base salary and other benefits.

⚫︎今月の[給料]はいつ支払われますか？ Translation: When will this month's [salary] be paid? ⚫︎彼女は高い[給料]をもらっている。 Translation: She receives a high [salary]. ⚫︎[給料]明細を確認しました。 Translation: I checked the [pay] stub.

You use 給料 in situations discussing employment, finances, and compensation. It's appropriate in formal and informal contexts. When discussing one's own income, a company's compensation, or negotiating a job offer, 給料 is the suitable term. You can use it in inquiries about pay dates, amount, or related topics.

給料 is typically written in kanji and hiragana: 給料 (きゅうりょう). The kanji 給 means "to provide" or "to supply," and 料 means "fee" or "charge." The okurigana (the suffix hiragana) is standard. There are no other common ways to write this word.

⚫︎ 給与 (きゅうよ): This is another term for salary or pay, slightly more formal than [給料]. ⚫︎ 賃金 (ちんぎん): This is a more general term for wages, often used for hourly or daily pay. ⚫︎ 報酬 (ほうしゅう): This means "reward" or "remuneration," and it can be used for salary, but can also refer to compensation for a specific service.

⚫︎ There isn't a direct antonym. However, terms that relate to the *lack* of payment, or the *giving* of [salary] or wages, could be considered related but not direct opposites. For example, 無給 (むきゅう) means "unpaid."

彼は[給料]が上がったので、新しい車を買うことにした。 ・Translation: He decided to buy a new car because his [salary] increased. ・Explanation: This sentence demonstrates how [給料] is used in the context of financial decisions and income.

面接で[給料]について話すのは普通のことです。 ・Translation: It's normal to talk about [salary] in a job interview. ・Explanation: This highlights that [給料] is a key topic during the job search process.

The word 給料 combines two kanji. 給 (kyū) signifies “to provide” or “supply," and 料 (ryō) indicates “fee” or “charge.” The compound essentially means "provided fee" or "supplied payment," which evolved to mean the "salary" an employer provides to an employee. It reflects the concept of compensating someone for their services or labor.